Travicity
10-06-2010, 03:04 PM
WWE's dropping buyrates have been a big topic of discussion this year, particularly when it comes to the "B" shows (in other words, any PPV other than Wrestlemania, Summerslam, Royal Rumble and Survivor Series). Well, Bragging Rights looks to be in a position to not only continue the trend of dropping buyrates, but take things to an even uglier low when you look at the competition for viewers and PPV dollars WWE will be dealing with that weekend.
Bragging Rights takes place on Sunday, October 24th. The night before, Saturday, October 23rd, UFC will present their UFC 121 event, headlined by UFC Heavyweight Champion (and former WWE star) Brock Lesnar defending against undefeated Cain Velasquez. The undercard features a lot of UFC favorites like Tito Ortiz, Matt Hamill and Diego Sanchez, and also the UFC debut of former Strikeforce star Jake Shields. As we have seen in the past, most notably with Survivor Series last year, a major UFC event the night before a WWE PPV will hurt the buyrate. It's just a case of simple economics, as a viewer interested in ordering both events will have to shell out over $90 (depending on your system) for the shows. The fact Brock Lesnar is on the show makes it even more appealing to wrestling fans who are also MMA viewers (or just want to see Brock).
Things aren't any easier for WWE on the actual day of the event. Bragging Rights will take place opposite NBC's Sunday Night Football, which on October 24th will showcase NFC North division rivals the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers. It will be only the second time since leaving Green Bay that now-Vikings quarterback Brett Farve will play at Lambeau Field in Wisconsin. For those that aren't familiar with football, allow me to explain how big of a game this is.
Last year, the first meeting between the Packers and Vikings in Minnesota on October 5th, on a broadcast of ESPN's Monday Night Football, was the most viewed telecast in cable history. Not the most viewed of the week, or the month, or the year. The most viewed telecast in the history of cable television. EVER. It pulled in a 15.3 rating and was seen in 15.1 households, both cable records. A month later, the two teams played again, this time in Wisconsin, and pulled in a 17.4 network rating for FOX, beating out even the World Series game that aired the same night on FOX (the Packers-Vikings game was at 4pm est).
Even though the Farve story is not as big as it was last year, it is still a major topic amongst NFL fans, and with Green Bay an early Superbowl favorite, you have to expect this game will again pull in a substantial audience, one that won't be ordering a WWE PPV at the same time.
On top of that, there is one other event on October 24th that could grab away more potential viewers from Bragging Rights. Depending on how things play out, Game Seven of the National League Championship Series is set for October 24th. Now, there is a chance the game won't be necessary, but if it is, you have to think another piece of the male demographic WWE desires will be wanting to see what team makes it to the World Series, for free, versus a WWE event they have to pay for.
If WWE manages to pull in a huge buyrate with this PPV, they certainly will have something to brag about.
PWI
Bragging Rights takes place on Sunday, October 24th. The night before, Saturday, October 23rd, UFC will present their UFC 121 event, headlined by UFC Heavyweight Champion (and former WWE star) Brock Lesnar defending against undefeated Cain Velasquez. The undercard features a lot of UFC favorites like Tito Ortiz, Matt Hamill and Diego Sanchez, and also the UFC debut of former Strikeforce star Jake Shields. As we have seen in the past, most notably with Survivor Series last year, a major UFC event the night before a WWE PPV will hurt the buyrate. It's just a case of simple economics, as a viewer interested in ordering both events will have to shell out over $90 (depending on your system) for the shows. The fact Brock Lesnar is on the show makes it even more appealing to wrestling fans who are also MMA viewers (or just want to see Brock).
Things aren't any easier for WWE on the actual day of the event. Bragging Rights will take place opposite NBC's Sunday Night Football, which on October 24th will showcase NFC North division rivals the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers. It will be only the second time since leaving Green Bay that now-Vikings quarterback Brett Farve will play at Lambeau Field in Wisconsin. For those that aren't familiar with football, allow me to explain how big of a game this is.
Last year, the first meeting between the Packers and Vikings in Minnesota on October 5th, on a broadcast of ESPN's Monday Night Football, was the most viewed telecast in cable history. Not the most viewed of the week, or the month, or the year. The most viewed telecast in the history of cable television. EVER. It pulled in a 15.3 rating and was seen in 15.1 households, both cable records. A month later, the two teams played again, this time in Wisconsin, and pulled in a 17.4 network rating for FOX, beating out even the World Series game that aired the same night on FOX (the Packers-Vikings game was at 4pm est).
Even though the Farve story is not as big as it was last year, it is still a major topic amongst NFL fans, and with Green Bay an early Superbowl favorite, you have to expect this game will again pull in a substantial audience, one that won't be ordering a WWE PPV at the same time.
On top of that, there is one other event on October 24th that could grab away more potential viewers from Bragging Rights. Depending on how things play out, Game Seven of the National League Championship Series is set for October 24th. Now, there is a chance the game won't be necessary, but if it is, you have to think another piece of the male demographic WWE desires will be wanting to see what team makes it to the World Series, for free, versus a WWE event they have to pay for.
If WWE manages to pull in a huge buyrate with this PPV, they certainly will have something to brag about.
PWI